Meeting with the Dean’s Staff for Match Advising and to review your MSPE

What is Discussed in the Meeting Review your progress Years 1-4 Academic Research USMLE

Discuss specialty preference Review specialty database (see how you stack

up compared with OSU students from past years) Discuss faculty connections and letters of

recommendation

Purpose of Meeting

Chance to review your MSPE letter To make sure you are on target To identify any additional support

needed To provide a point of contact

…to provide support and guidance for the match

This is a benefit, not a punishment

We are from the government, and we are here to help you.

What is Discussed in the Meeting Couples Match? Geographic preference Number of applications planned Number of interviews scheduled Number of interviews planned Likelihood of matching in specialty Back-up plans Further assistance needed

If you have concerns, don’t ignore them; Come and see us!

Scheduling your review

First step is to answer Beverly Trout’s email inquiry about what specialty you are going into, etc. If entering “early” Match or highly competitive

field, email Beverly Trout to let her know Early Match candidates given priority for earlier

meetings. Also those with academic challenges. You will be assigned to review with a member of

the Dean’s staff.

Reviewing your letter

You will be assigned to review your MSPE with a dean or faculty member. Some of the reviewers work primarily with students in their own specialty.

Reviewing Your Letter

You will be contacted by Beverly Trout via email regarding your review. Meetings: May-August Plan ahead based on your schedule (e.g., if

going to be away) Come 15 minutes early to review for

accuracy/proofread your MSPE. We can do edits of unique characteristics during this time. Not permitted to take a copy with you

Does the MSPE show my class rank? What is a cluster?

OSU COM is a non-ranking medical school. However, like many medical schools, we do

group graduating students into clusters based on their performance. Your MSPE will state that you are in a particular

cluster.

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MSPE Clusters

What is it?

The MSPE Cluster designation is a student’s

relative position within their class Clusters are determined after all Med 3 grades

are submitted to the Office of Medical Education

Approximate Cluster Categories (by %)

Outstanding: 90 – 100 Excellent: 70 – 89.99 Very Good: 33 – 69.99 Good: 10 – 32.99 Capable: <10

Cluster Method

Part 1 is weighted the same as Part 2 Overall average is average of Part 1 and part 2

academic program scores No alteration for distinctions

Those who joined LSI later will have a hybrid Will be based on combination of old system and

new

Away Rotation Update

Away Rotations

Recent discussion about reciprocity agreements between states regarding clinical rotations. Rules vary by state, but consequences could

include withholding of licensure in the away state (thus preventing residency); other action? Poses a risk to OSU for granting credit for an

experience in a state where they are not authorized.

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Alaska

Arizona

California

Connecticut

Florida

Hawaii

Idaho

Indiana

Illinois

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

South Dakota

Utah

Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

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What to do?

Unless expressly permitted by the home state, we have been advised to disallow rotations for credit at away institutions. If rotations at these states is desired, should

contact them to see if rotations need to be for credit – discuss with us. We are working as quickly as possible to

broaden the existing list of approved states.

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Introducing yourself: Photo/Appearance, CV and Personal Statement

In general….

Skills that can, AND WILL, be assessed by those who read your application include:

Attention to Detail Ability to follow directions Effectiveness as a communicator Comportment

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Picture: yes or no? Yes– it does make you

more memorable BUT: be careful what it

reflects…..

Curriculum Vitae

Simply put: Follow the Directions Medical Education Education include study abroad or post bacc or other

degrees Membership and Honorary/Professional

Societies Member? Officer? Elected? Appointed?

CV: Volunteer Experience

List from MOST important/involved to LEAST important/involved

Don’t list anything you can’t talk passionately

about

Don’t list the usual single episode events (e.g., car washes, bake sales)

Don’t list interest groups if you didn’t provide service to others– that is not volunteer work!! If you were the organizing individual, that is

different…

CV: Research Experience

Your position/title Your mentor Brief Synopsis of the work “involved in a project to examine issues of

recruitment and retention in the Breast Cancer Navigator Program”

Hobbies and Interests

Here is where you can list interest group participation as a member (rather than a leader) Add any other interests that could prompt a

discussion that you would like to generate in an interview. If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t list it. NRA advocacy group, PETA membership

Foreign Language Fluency?

Other Awards and Accomplishments

Any merit scholarships count as an award Any Course/Clerkship Honors or Letters of

Commendation can be listed here FYI: Not “letter of accommodation”

Personal Statement

Program Directors read lots of these. Make yours stand out (for good reasons).

Tell a story that made an impact on you and it will make an impact on them. A patient (use initials) that provoked an

emotion in you Tie it in to why you are pursuing the career

you have chosen.

Avoid “why I wanted to be a doctor”– that got you into medical school. Be more specific now.

Personal Statement

Do not go over 1 page. I mean it. No matter how good the story, it isn’t worth it.

“Brevity is the soul of wit” Do not rehash what is on your CV unless it is

part of the story: “so then I entered the lab where I soon learned all

about PCR” is boring… “before my eyes, the result appeared. Now I knew

what this patient had” is not.

Personal Statement

IF you have a red flag, it is wise to discuss briefly Never blame someone else for your failure ▪ “the resident was incompetent and the clerkship

director hated the fact that I reported her to the University President”

Accept personal responsibility and describe how you learned from it. ▪ “The failure of my Medicine shelf exam provided me

with the opportunity to rethink how to learn in the clinical environment. Since then, I have excelled on all of my exams.”

Please talk with a Dean about how to address these issues.

Personal Statement: BEWARE

Stereotypic descriptions “feisty” “swarthy” “cute” (except maybe re kids)

Disparaging medical speak “pimping”, “fleas”, “OSH”

Misspellings or grammatical errors Be careful of their/there/they’re, you’re/your

Gimmicks…. “D is for Dermatology” Plagiarism Don’t wait until the last minute! Please have someone else look at your statement

to help identify these things: Portfolio Coach at least should proofread